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Softonic review

Skype is the most popular application on the market for making video calls, mobile calls, and sending instant messages and SMS. On top of all that, it's now emerging as the successor to Messenger.

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Skype's functions

The creators of Kazaa, the famous P2P download program, brought Skype into the world in 2003. This is the same technology that enables the program to allow voice calls between users and phones.

Video calls, the star function of the program, didn't appear until two years later, along with a range of functions that eventually disappeared over time, including Skypecast, SkypeFind, and even sending money.

Since its inception, Skype has changed ownership several times, passing via eBay before it came to Microsoft, which acquired it in 2011. Within a year, it turned into the top messaging program on the market.

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With Skype, you can communicate with your friends wherever they are and with whatever device you use, whether it's a latest generation phone, smart TV, PC or Mac.

Its main interest lies in video calls, where it's becoming something of a benchmark. They're free, although if you want to make group video calls of up to 10 people, then you need to pay.

In addition, Skype lets you call regular telephone numbers worldwide at a reduced rate, which is then deducted from your balance.

Finally, Skype, like a good successor to Messenger, lets you chat with your friends regardless of the service they're using, whether Skype, Messenger or Facebook.

Skype's usability

Using Skype isn't difficult, as long as you limit yourself to the basics.

Calling another Skype user is really simple, and the same applies to making phone calls: the "difficulties" only appear if you want to use some of the more advanced features.

Some functions are hidden in menus or buttons which aren't very descriptive (e.g. screen sharing), which requires a bit of prior learning and practice to take full advantage of it.

The fact that Skype has become a reference point when it comes to regular calls and video calling is no coincidence: it's a real all-rounder.

Skype is adaptable to almost any configuration, webcam, and network speed without requiring anything more than minimum configuration. It works without much, and does so very well.

There are many variables when it comes to good quality picture and sound, and Skype knows how to squeeze the full potential of your system, adapting the quality to the situation to keep the conversation flowing and stable.

Conclusion: an essential program

Its functions, quality, and extent of its network users make it a program that's indispensable,not only on your PC, but also on your phone and tablet.

As for its future, you just need to remember that Microsoft has staked everything on Skype, which ensures that the program will continue to improve and increase its market share in the coming years.

Some changes to refine the UI and to improve compatibility with OS X Mavericks.
Did you know that you can turn off all notifications, such as new message sounds, by setting your status to Do Not Disturb? This feature has been in Skype for years, but sometimes it can be easy to forget that you’re in this mode so we’ve added a warning to the Notifications preference pane to remind you why you aren’t getting notifications in this state.
You’ve always been able to adjust the size of text in the conversation pane, but text you typed into a conversation would remain the same. We’ve amended this so that now the two text sizes will be updated at the same time. Just choose "Make Text Bigger" from the View menu.
We’ve also fixed a number of reported bugs, including sound output from Skype to Bluetooth headphones and speakers caused by a change in the way that OS X reported available devices, and mach port leak on Mavericks which could lead to slowness and, in some cases, kernel panics.

Skype for Mac has been updated with a new improved chat interface which brings it closer to the iOS version including timestamps, contact photos and the option to start chats on iOS and continue them on your Mac.

Changes

Some changes to refine the UI and to improve compatibility with OS X Mavericks.
Did you know that you can turn off all notifications, such as new message sounds, by setting your status to Do Not Disturb? This feature has been in Skype for years, but sometimes it can be easy to forget that you’re in this mode so we’ve added a warning to the Notifications preference pane to remind you why you aren’t getting notifications in this state.
You’ve always been able to adjust the size of text in the conversation pane, but text you typed into a conversation would remain the same. We’ve amended this so that now the two text sizes will be updated at the same time. Just choose "Make Text Bigger" from the View menu.
We’ve also fixed a number of reported bugs, including sound output from Skype to Bluetooth headphones and speakers caused by a change in the way that OS X reported available devices, and mach port leak on Mavericks which could lead to slowness and, in some cases, kernel panics.

Skype for Mac has been updated with a new improved chat interface which brings it closer to the iOS version including timestamps, contact photos and the option to start chats on iOS and continue them on your Mac.

Author's review

Skype for Mac

Enjoy Skype's fresh new look and feel. Here are just a few of the great things you can do:

Chat every day with free instant messages.

Share files and photos for free in an instant.

See your family come together over a free group video call.

Switch between calling and messages with one click, or do both together.

Low-cost calls and text messages to mobiles and landlines.

All you need to get started is Mac OS X 10.6 or above, a webcam for video calls and a microphone. To get the latest Skype for Mac (version 7+), you'll need Mac OS X 10.9 or above.

Skype (OS X 10.9+) 7.8.388

User reviews about Skype

by Tzvetan Georgiev

All the useful features - gone. Frequent changes of the interface making it worse and worse. Support is useless. Gath... MoreAll the useful features - gone. Frequent changes of the interface making it worse and worse. Support is useless. Gathering personal data by all means including forcing the users to scan ID cards to "proof" that they are adults, forgetting that this same account was paying for "corporate" few months ago.

reviewed on April 27, 2018

by Ahsan Hafeez

Perfect. its a very good program to video chat. i always use it for my meeting and to chat with friends.. MorePerfect. its a very good program to video chat. i always use it for my meeting and to chat with friends.

reviewed on August 16, 2017

by Anonymous

it is great for family and friends . you can talk an view your family an friends online on skype; it i a great t... Moreit is great for family and friends . you can talk an view your family an friends online on skype; it i a great to communicate share daily life.

reviewed on February 14, 2016

by Anonymous

Favourite app fro making calls and chatting. Skype is my favourite app for making video calls and chatting. I’ve... MoreFavourite app fro making calls and chatting. Skype is my favourite app for making video calls and chatting. I’ve been using it on Windows and now I have installed and tested it on my new Mac. So far I did not encounter any issues or bugs with this cross platform app.
You can make calls anywhere in the world. If you have friends or relatives abroad Skype is your best option. Conference call allows to have a conversation with several interlocutors at the same time. Built in live chat feature has a lot of nice looking and funny emoticons to make chatting more interesting and express your emotions. Moreover Skype is good for file sharing. However this may take a while(especially with large files). User friendly interface provides easy access to all Skype’s features. Even my grandmother can use it without additional explanation. I would recommend this application for everyone however Mac users have FaceTime and Messages as the alternative. Pros: intuitive interface
conference call feature
funny live chat emoticons Cons: Mac users have FaceTime and Messages for same purposes

reviewed on July 20, 2015

by Anonymous

Bad update - avoid. The latest, 6.4.0.833, is an awful crash-fest. AVOID UPGRADING. It is unreliable with Cont... MoreBad update - avoid. The latest, 6.4.0.833, is an awful crash-fest. AVOID UPGRADING. It is unreliable with Contacts and with unreliable when disconnecting. Microsoft is really destroying the experience. Cons: Stability

reviewed on May 20, 2013

by Anonymous

Worse than 6.1 -- Keep on using 2.8. . 6.2 is a miserable implementation. Crashes and crashes. Runs 100% CPU w... MoreWorse than 6.1 -- Keep on using 2.8. . 6.2 is a miserable implementation. Crashes and crashes. Runs 100% CPU without loading. Disabled my Skype 6.0 that I used for backup in case 6.1 crashed (it did). So I now have no way to run a group videoconference, for which I pay a monthly fee. I'm headed to Fuzebox. That's all there is too it. (PS Yes, I earlier installed the lastest version of Call Recorder. No fair pawning this off on Ecamm.)